Eduard Sacapaño Stars on Azkals beating Singapore lion Anew, 1-0

Man of the Match. Ed Sacapaño guesses the right way in stopping the penalty of Singapore. (Arni Aclao)

Azkals' Sacapaño wins it for Philippines

CEBU CITY -- Fireworks capped the 1-0 win of the Philippines over Singapore at the packed Cebu City Sports Center Thursday night, but it could simply ushered in what could be a fiery campaign for Ed Sacapaño in the Suzuki Cup.

And he couldn't have picked up a better time. On the day regular starter Neil Etheridge, now playing on loan at Bristol Rovers from Fulham, announced he won't be available for this month's Suzuki Cup, the Ilonggo keeper, relegated to the bench whenever Etheridge, or Roland Muller come in, showed that there might not be any need to worry at all.

Sacapaño stopped a late first half penalty and a free kick in the second half to preserve the Philippines' 1-0 win over Singapore, the Azkals' second straight shutout win over the former Suzuki Cup champions since September.

"The goalkeeper had a good performance," Singapore coach Radjoko Avramovic said in the post match press conference, "The game is more intense than last September."

The Singaporeans looked to get even with the hosts after their 2-0 loss last year, with a couple of early but tentative chances. In the fifth, a free kick hit the wall, while a minute later, Sacapano was forced to his first save from left flank.

Advantage

Sacapano punched out a cross in the 11th, while two minutes in, the Philippines got its first chance from a Chieffy Caligdong free kick but failed to take advantage.

In the 26th, Sacapaño again had to stop a brilliant shot from 30 yards before Rob Gier got one for the keeper as he stripped a Singaporean striker inside the box.

In the 39th, Chris Greatwich had a soft shot hit wide, while a minute later, Caligdong got carded after continuing play despite the whistle from the referee.

After a Denis Wolf miss in injury time, Singapore got its best chance after the Malaysian referee called a penalty. However, Sacapaño rose to the occasion as he guess right to stop the kick.

Coach Michael Weiss brought in Marwin Angeles, Phil and James Younghusband at halftime and the move paid dividends just eight minutes after the change.

Phil attacked from right before connecting with Reichelt, whose initial shot bounced to an open Angeles for the lone goal of the match, sparking a mad celebration from the partisan crowd.

Disallowed goals

Singapore pressed for an equalizer but Juani Guirado and the back four managed to hold them, and when the visitors got a shot, there was Sacapano, who had a diving save in the 53rd.

Wolf also had a couple of chances but his bouncing header sailed high, while another header in the 77th kissed the bar.

In the 87th, Sacapano saved the Philippines again, this time, punching out a curling free kick just outside the box to preserve the win.

Singapore got a goal late in the second half, but the referee waived it off for a foul prior the shot.

Ian Araneta, brought in late for Wolf, appeared to have scored but the goal of the Air Force striker was also waived off.

The match against Singapore was the Philippines finally friendly match before leaving for the Suzuki Cup in Thailand.

The Azkals, which broke into national prominence in their last Suzuki Cup campaign, will be facing host Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar in the group.

Singapore will take on Malaysia, Indonesia and Laos in the other group. (http://is.gd/48tFLg)

Sunstar

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Suzuki Car Japan will build car Manufacturing plant in Laguna, Philippines

Susuki Car Japan will build a new car plant in Laguna

Canlubang, Laguna—Japanese car maker Suzuki Motor Corp. plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Laguna, the company's chairman said Thursday.

"We are planning to put up a car manufacturing facility beside our existing motorcycle manufacturing plant in Laguna," Suzuki Motor chairman and chief executive Osamu Suzuki  said during the inauguration of the company's newest Canlubang motorcycle plant.

Suzuki did not provide details on the investment plan. He said the facility would create significant job opportunities for Filipinos, especially for those residing in the Calabarzon area.

Suzuki led the inauguration of the P1-billion motorcycle plant, which started full operations in May this year.  The factory plans to produce 200,000 units annually, or more than double the 96,000 units the company produced in its Pasig City facility.

Suzuki said the plant on a 126,599-square meter property at Carmelray Industrial Park in  Canlubang, Laguna aimed to better serve the growing local motorcycle market. He said the plant was expected to support Suzuki's motorcycle production by 2013.

"With the growing motorcycle market in the Philippines and in the region, we thought it was logical to expand operations in the Philippines so we can better and faster serve our consumer needs," Suzuki said.

"The Canlubang plant will also enhance local parts procurement and its larger production capacity will also make us ready for the growing motorcycle market as the plant is equipped with better machines and processes," he said.

Suzuki Philippines managing director Catalina Calderon said the new plant would be instrumental in achieving a 25-percent market share in 2015. Suzuki holds the third spot in the local market with a 14-percent share.

Calderon said Suzuki Philippines planned to attain a full capacity of 200,000 units annually by 2015. She said the company also intended to export in the future.

Calderon said of the total 300 employees in the Pasig plant, 95 percent chose to work in the new facility in Canlubang while only 5 percent opted for early retirement.

Plans for the new plant came about in 2009, when Suzuki Philippines pushed to increase its sales volume by year 2013.

Before the Canlubang plant, Suzuki's assembly plant was a 6,706-sq. m. facility in Pasig City with a maximum production capacity of 8,000 units per month, or 96,000 units annually.

"This new milestone is keeping true to our company's promise to better the Filipino lives in every aspect, not only with quality vehicles at affordable prices but with provisions of an array of jobs for the people," Suzuki Philippines president Satoshi Uchida said. (http://is.gd/z5qRSZ)

Manila Standard Today

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